The European Union provision of additional quotas for Ukrainian agricultural products must be the key element of the increasing bilateral trade within the framework of the DCFTA ,the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Taras Kutovyi said during the meeting with the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan.

According to the Minister, during the visit of the Ukrainian delegation to Brussels several rounds of exhausting negotiations were conducted devoted to the possible increasing of Ukrainian exports to the EU. For the Ukrainian side this decision would allow to improve the bilateral trade balance, and to enhance the food safety control system in Ukraine.

“I would like to underline an incredible amount of work and efforts in the negotiation process of the Ukrainian delegation to Brussels. We are close to positive outcome of the matter”- stated the Minister. 

In order to develop the bilateral trade with the EU Ukraine for its part works on an efficient programme to support farmers, a plan of restructuring of agriculture and privatization of state-owned enterprises and a transparent land market reform.

“Support for rural development, reforming the system of the food security, improving international market access for Ukrainian exports– are the main vectors for strengthening the bilateral trade” – emphasized T. Kutovyi  

Apart from that, the Minister mentioned that a draft law of Ukraine “on stimulation of development of agricultural complex of Ukraine” was adopted. The law provides the creation a specialized institution for support and funding of small and medium-sized enterprises in the countryside and for rural development following the example of Europe.

It is worth to remind that the team of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine headed by T. Kutovyi formulated a strategic plan “3+5”for reforming the sector. One of the 3 most important priorities of reforms is the state aid to small and medium-sized farmers. The reform of state aid implies the creation of comfortable conditions for development of smallholder farmers and stimulation of production of value-added products. The transparency and targeted approach must become the main principles of the state aid for farmers.